Lynn Morgan: Everyone knows the history of their houses in Savannah! We're all very proud of our homes. Mine was built by a shipping magnate in 1853, and it's a classic example of the predominant style of architecture in the historic district — a four-story Greek Revival.

Any ghosts lurking about?

There are lots of ghosts in Savannah, but I don't think we have one. I don't feel haunted by the past here. I did my own thing.

How do you take a great old historic house from past to present?

It's just like anything else — you go with the things you love, regardless of whether they fit the period. Any good designer will tell you that in order to create depth and interest and an inviting atmosphere, you need a mix of past and present. I tried to keep a balanced mix of antiques and traditional pieces with modern art, zippy fabrics, and bright, spirited colors. I chose furniture based on comfort and a relaxed American style. It says, 'Come in and let me offer you a drink.' I think that even if you put its history aside, this is a very American house because it's not fussy. It's straightforward decorating — there's no twist here. What you see is what you get.

Easy elegance. I stayed true to my style here — simple, casual, nothing too French, nothing too English. Isn't that what American style is all about? Being yourself? I think I just pressed the 'refresh' button in some ways. I took traditional furniture and gave it new colors and bold pattern — bright green on the dining room chairs, blue zebra on an ottoman. It can actually be a bit of a shock.

It's probably a bit of a shock to some people to see all this high-gloss white.

It's amazing what a coat of white paint can do! I love to do high gloss on the trim when there is good architecture like this, to bring out the details. It really does justice to the molding, the 12-foot ceilings, those dramatic six-over-six double-sash windows.

A Southern girl always likes a little glamour, too, right?

For me, glamour and sophistication go hand in hand with simplicity. I'm always editing, getting rid of things. I always take something out of a room after I've finished.

That makes me think of Coco Chanel's advice about accessories: Before you leave the house, take one thing off.

Works for decorating, too. I even edit my flower arrangements to only one type of flower. If things are pared down, I can throw in a little glamour like gilt and gold without overwhelming the room and having it feel stuffy. The most important thing is that the basics — sofa and armchairs, headboard — are in solid colors.

You've also used some unassuming pieces, like white garden stools.

True, you can get them anywhere, even Target. I like them because they're shiny. This is all about the mix. Not just furniture, but surfaces too. In the living room, there's the lacquered trim, matte walls, gilt frames, washed-out wood bergères, the blue-painted bistro tables, rush matting, the shiny stools. And I love anything having to do with a garden.

Your garden is worthy of your love.

It's a little secret garden tucked into our backyard. We put in orange trees, jasmine, and hydrangeas, my favorite flower. It's incredibly fragrant. And we put twinkling lights in the trees, so candlelight dinners are positively magical. All around Savannah there are walls and gates, and behind them are hidden secret gardens like this one, little hideaways.

A fabulous book that really captures the mix of people in this city. The old characters, the debutantes — it's hysterical.

Tell me more about your roots here.

You can't turn your back on your upbringing, can you? It's always a part of you. I grew up in the first historically landmarked house in the Savannah suburbs. It was Georgian, with columns and beautiful symmetry, a gorgeous house built in about 1917. I've always loved great architecture because of that house, and I've always been interested in antiques and a house's history. That house has influenced my whole life.

How was it decorated?

My mother really wasn't completely immersed in the Southern style. That was so intriguing for me as a young girl. She had everything slipcovered in white, and the house was full of painted pieces. She would find an old beaten-up piece of furniture with good bones, and we would paint it. To this day, I love painted furniture.

What do you love most about your house?

It's gracious, like all of Savannah. It reminds me of my parents' hospitality. That hospitality is a whole different thing in the South. This house is about being comfortable, about entertaining, about friends and family. Its architecture is set off by the bright colors in a way that creates a happy feeling, a pretty ambience. And, you know, I find that everyone wants a happy look these days.